Elevated chronic bronchitis diagnosis risk among women in a local emergency department patient population associated with the 2012 heatwave and drought in Douglas county, NE USA.

Background: Concerns about global climate change force local public health agencies to assess potential local disease risk.

Objective: Determine if risk of an emergency department chronic bronchitis diagnosis in Douglas County, NE, was higher during the 2012 heatwave compared to the same calendar period in 2011.

Methods: Retrospective, observational, case-control design selecting subjects from 2011 and 2012 emergency department (ED) admissions.

Emergency department asthma diagnosis risk associated with the 2012 heat wave and drought in Douglas County NE, USA.

Background: Global climate change concerns are forcing local public health agencies to assess potential disease risk.

Objective: Determine if risk of an emergency department asthma diagnosis in Douglas County, NE, was higher during the 2012 heatwave compared to 2011.

Methods: Retrospective, observational, case-control design selecting subjects from 2011 and 2012 emergency department (ED) admissions.

Lung cancer mortality among uranium gaseous diffusion plant workers: a cohort study 1952-2004.

Background: 9%-15% of all lung cancers are attributable to occupational exposures. Reports are disparate regarding elevated lung cancer mortality risk among workers employed at uranium gaseous diffusion plants.

Objective: To investigate whether external radiation exposure is associated with lung cancer mortality risk among uranium gaseous diffusion workers.

Predictors of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid exposure among herbicide applicators.

To determine the major factors affecting the urinary levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) among county noxious weed applicators in Kansas, we used a regression technique that accounted for multiple days of exposure. We collected 136 12-h urine samples from 31 applicators during the course of two spraying seasons (April to August of 1994 and 1995). Using mixed-effects models, we constructed exposure models that related urinary 2,4-D measurements to weighted self-reported work activities from daily diaries collected over 5 to 7 days before the collection of the urine sample.

The relationship between school absence, academic performance, and asthma status.

Background: Children with asthma experience more absenteeism from school compared with their nonasthma peers. Excessive absenteeism is related to lower student grades, psychological, social, and educational adjustment. Less is known about the relationship between the presence of asthma and the academic achievement in school-aged children.

Asthma status and severity affects missed school days.

Excessive school absence disrupts learning and is a strong predictor of premature school dropout. School-aged children with asthma are absent more often compared to their healthy peers without asthma; yet, the causes are inadequately documented. We sought to determine the difference in mean absence days between children with and without asthma, the relationship between asthma severity and missed days from school, and if incident absences were due to asthma in a predominantly African American urban school district in the Midwestern United States.

Breast cancer research among African-American women: accurate racial categories?

This essay questions the appropriateness of racial categories in breast cancer research and recommends the discontinuation of "African-American" as a valid racial category in breast cancer research until better categories can be developed.

Existing data on breast cancer in African-American women: what we know and what we need to know.

Background: Much of what is known about breast cancer in African-American (AA) women is based on existing cancer surveillance data. Thus, it is important to consider the accuracy of these resources in describing the impact of breast cancer in AA populations.

Methods: National cancer surveillance data bases are described, their most recent findings are presented, their limitations are outlined, and recommendations are made for improving their utility.

Micronucleus frequency and proliferation in human lymphocytes after exposure to herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in vitro and in vivo.

Widespread use of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and its association with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and other cancers has raised public concern. Here, micronucleus (MN) formation has been used as a biomarker of genotoxicity, and replicative and mitotic indices (MIs) as biomarkers of cell cycle kinetics in human lymphocytes. Cells were cultured either as whole blood or isolated lymphocytes and treated with pure or commercial forms of 2,4-D at doses between 0.

Epidemiology of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

The health hazards due to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are increasingly established. ETS contains thousands of chemicals including 43 known carcinogens. One of the most important known health effects of ETS exposure is lung cancer in non-smokers, based on epidemiologic evidence and knowledge of the uptake and metabolism of ETS.

Increased lymphocyte replicative index following 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide exposure.

Objective: Evaluate peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation (replicative index:RI) and micronuclei frequency (MF) among 2,4-D herbicide applicators.

Methods: Twelve applicators spraying only 2,4-D provided a blood and urine specimen upon enrollment, several urine samples during the spraying season, and a blood specimen at the study's end. Nine controls provided blood and urine specimens upon enrollment and at the study's end.

Uses of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, 1993-1997.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to document and describe Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data use patterns, benefits, and barriers from 1993 to 1997.

Methods: Data use information was gathered via a Medline database search and a telephone survey of BRFSS program directors (n = 54).

Results: The database search uncovered 109 BRFSS-based reports.

Data uses, benefits, and barriers for the behavioral risk factor surveillance system: a qualitative study of users.

The purpose of this study was to describe data use, benefits, and barriers among BRFSS users. A trained facilitator conducted eight focus groups of eight to 12 state health department employees. NUD*IST qualitative software was used to code responses.

Trends in breast cancer screening in Missouri from 1987 to 1995, and predictions for the years 2000 and 2010.

Background: Breast cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States (U.S.) and Missouri.

Case-control study of occupational exposures and male breast cancer.

Objective: To investigate whether risk of male breast cancer is associated with workplace exposures.

Methods: A case-control study of 178 cases of male breast cancer and 1041 controls was carried out with data from the United States national mortality follow-back survey, which collected questionnaire information from proxy respondents of a 1% sample of all 1986 United States deaths among subjects aged 25-74 years. Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields, high temperatures, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), herbicides, other pesticides, and organic solvents was assessed by applying job-exposure matrices, based on the 1980 United States census occupation and industry codes, to the longest job held by study subjects as reported by the informants.

The impact of initial job assignment on formaldehyde exposure among African-American and white formaldehyde industry workers.

We compared initial job assignments of African-American and white employees at eight worksites that used formaldehyde between 1940 and 1979. Unexposed workers were excluded. Median, ambient air formaldehyde, 8-hour, time-weighted average (TWA8) exposure estimates were determined for each worksite.

Differences in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival between African Americans and whites.

This report highlights selected evidence of different cancer patterns among African Americans and whites and considers potential risk factors associated with these cancers. During the years 1987 to 1991, African Americans experienced higher incidence and mortality rates than whites for multiple myeloma and for cancers of the oropharynx, colorectum, lung and bronchus, cervix, and prostate. African Americans had lower incidence and mortality for cancer of the urinary bladder.

Breast cancer among women exposed to polybrominated biphenyls.

We conducted a nested case-control study with 1,925 women enrolled in a polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) registry to examine the association between breast cancer and serum PBBs. Twenty women who developed breast cancer were matched to 290 control subjects on sex, race, and age. Women with serum PBB levels of 2.

United States non-Hodgkin's lymphoma surveillance by occupation 1984-1989: a twenty-four state death certificate study.

Death certificates from 23,890 male and female non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases and 119,450 noncancer controls from 24 states for the period 1984-1989 were used to generate hypotheses regarding occupational associations. Cases were frequency matched by age, race, and gender with five controls per case. Odds ratios were calculated for 231 industries and 509 occupations.

Cancer incidence and mortality among beta-naphthylamine and benzidine dye workers in Moscow.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality were evaluated among 4581 aniline dye production workers in Moscow.

Methods: A historical cohort was assembled and followed-up from 1 January 1975 to 31 December 1989. Moscow district oncologic dispensary registries furnished case ascertainment and employer records provided job exposure data.

Risk of multiple myeloma by occupation and industry among men and women: a 24-state death certificate study.

This cancer surveillance investigation uses death certificates from 24 states for the period 1984-1989 to identify multiple myeloma and occupation associations and to stimulate hypotheses. A case-control study of multiple myeloma was created from 3,159,417 certificates in which 12,148 male and female cases were frequency matched by age, race, and gender with five controls per case. We screened 231 industries and 509 occupations.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy in a clinical setting: a comparison of direct ophthalmoscopy by primary care physicians with fundus photography.

Background: Type II diabetes mellitus is a major health problem among Native Americans, and diabetic retinopathy is a frequent complication of this disease. Screening for retinopathy can identify early disease and prevent major vision loss, but the most cost-effective screening method has not yet been determined.

Methods: In a rural clinic that served more than 400 Native Americans with diabetes, we compared the accuracy of referrals made based on two screening methods: ophthalmoscopy by trained primary care physicians and seven-view nonstereoscopic, mydriatic fundal photography read by two general ophthalmologists and a retinal specialist.